Art Show: Biff & Michelle

From May 1 to 15, the Class of 2023 artist series showcased artwork from Biff Tran ’23 and Michelle St. Jacques ’23 in the Tremaine Art Center. Their art show reception was on May 15 in the Lee Roberts ’74 Gallery.

Biff’s favorite art class at Suffield was the first one she took as a freshman: Art I. It was a new experience but she loved all the different kinds of projects and the creative thinking she exercised. Her senior leadership position was even being a TA for the course that brought that creativity and inspiration out of her. In Biff’s artist statement, she says, “I have a boundless appreciation for artists who make art with the purpose of expressing important topics that they are passionate about. For me, I make whatever comes to mind and whatever feels right. I prioritize creating things I personally enjoy and can tangibly incite certain emotions from viewers as well as myself... This doesn't mean that none of my work has a message, it's simply that when I want to smear paint on a canvas to resemble avocado spread, that is exactly all I wanted to do.” Biff’s art is inspired by Adelle Rawluk(@arawluk__things), Junji Ito (horror manga artist), Nicoletta Ceccoli, Julia Stankevych, and her sister (@jeanettetran.art). She plans to keep art as a hobby in college, something to enjoy for herself and in her own time.

Michelle’s favorite art class at Suffield has been ceramics, which she has taken for three years including being a teaching assistant this year. While she doesn’t plan to study art in college, Michelle hopes to take extracurriculars that include art. Since she’ll be in a city she hopes to find a studio to visit nearby. The artists that have inspired her the most are her teacher Mrs. Caginalp, her classmates, and her older sister. Michelle says, “I was never the artistic one in my family, and I didn’t enjoy art classes before Suffield. I took ceramics in my freshman year because I knew I would have to take an art class eventually and I knew I couldn’t draw or paint very well. I ended up falling in love with using clay to make 3D art and had a lot of fun with it, so I decided to continue. If you told me four years ago that I would love art as much as I do now I probably would have never believed you, but the amazing teachers and environment in the art building made me super comfortable and inspired me to try new things.”